Nintendo has announced that its president and CEO Satoru Iwata passed away on Saturday. The cause of death was a bile duct growth. Iwata was only 55.
Iwata took over for longtime Nintendo president Hiroshi Yamauchi in 2002. He had taken time off just last year to have a tumor surgically removed, returning earlier this year after a brief period of recovery. The company has not announced who will be taking over for him, but it goes without saying that they will have some big shoes to fill.
Iwata led Nintendo through some rather spectacular highs, including the launch of the massively successful Wii and Nintendo DS, as well as a recent low, with the still-struggling Wii U. 55 is way too young. He will be sorely missed.
